An interesting piece in the Guardian recently from an Englishman, Robert Fowke, here sees him trying to analyze why HE is both obsessed with the Israel-Palestine conflict, and is urbanely anti-Israel.

The letter writers form the usual line-up of pro and anti, but the arguments used are worth reading, providing a perspective, indeed, into why the 421 or so letter writers are obsessed with the subject.

The subtitle of the article is “why do so many of us pick away at the conflict like it’s a giant scab”

David Burchell in the Australian has written an excellent expose here on the deafening silence from the left regarding the Iranian student protesters.

Burchell’s article begins “It is surely one of the great paradoxes of this age that while many of our cleverest minds have fallen headlong in love with peoples whose causes are more or less entirely alien to us, we can find no stirring in our hearts for peoples whose greatest hope is to become . . . well, more like us.

“Thus we artlessly dispatched our hearts on a sentimental journey to Gaza designed for our benefit by the canny Islamists in Ankara and their bloodstained allies in Gaza; people who, in any other context, would treat our Western soft-heartedness and woolly-mindedness with undisguised contempt.”

“And yet our hearts have no space whatever for the thousands of young Iranian students who, on Saturday, defied the threats of their government, the beatings of the extra-legal militias, and the pusillanimity of their erstwhile leaders, merely to ask for the right to have their votes treated with dignity, rather than being fabricated out of some dodgy Russian software in Iran’s Ministry of the Interior.”

… Burchell calls it a “paradox”.  Instead it is very revealing of a state of moral bankruptcy that is dangerous for our Western traditions.

According to an article in the Wall St Journal,   “Imam Fethullah Gülen, a controversial and reclusive U.S. resident who is considered Turkey’s most influential religious leader, criticized a Turkish-led flotilla for trying to deliver aid without Israel’s consent.” …   “Mr. Gülen said organizers’ failure to seek accord with Israel before attempting to deliver aid “is a sign of defying authority, and will not lead to fruitful matters.”

The article, which is here, is a reminder of some of the complexities of Turkey.

.. and I thought “Terk in America” was just a great Klezmer tune ,.. as performed in a medley here. ..  by Julien Petit, soprano saxophone, and Rémy Yulzari, double bass, members of the French “Trio Klezele”.  The “Terk In America” was originally recorded by Naftule Brandwein in 1924 and it is based on a popular Greek-Turkish melody named Uskudar. On the piano Mula Sajevich, Israeli composer and arranger. Recorded by Arik Nitsan during the seminar “Clarinet and Klezmer in Galilee” 2009, in Israel. .. and another fun version, by Baba Ganush

.. Meanwhile back to the Flotilla, evidence points to mercenaries being aboard the Turkish ship that turned violent,  David Horowitz provides an overall assessment. and a US Congressman provides a strong message of support for Israel.

Petra Marquardt-Bigman has written a useful article about the “progressive” anti-Zionists.  Defining oneself as “progressive” has that parallel sense of unreality that the words “Democratic Republic of X” always used to convey.

Marquardt-Bigman points to articles that attempt to justify “the quest for “solutions” that would put an end to Israel as a Jewish state with the argument that the peace process has failed to achieve a two-state solution that would provide for a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Implicit in this reasoning is the notion that the fact that Israel is one of the few successful states established in modern times is irrelevant. Instead, Israel is held responsible for creating a Palestinian state, and Israel’s failure to do so is apparently thought to justify the notion that the Jewish state has forfeited its right to exist.

Supposedly, this line of reasoning reflects a “progressive” political orientation, and its proponents would naturally object to any suggestion that their stance is precariously similar to the views of anti-Semitic and reactionary political forces like Hamas, Hizbullah, Iran’s regime and Syria. But of course all of these forces want exactly the same thing as the anti-Zionist “progressives”: to get rid of Israel as a Jewish state.

It is arguably also quite revealing that the “progressive” anti-Zionist reasoning is never applied to states other than Israel.”

The Leftist IsLamist ALlliance is a development, with dangerous implications for all open societies, including Israel, Australia, Europe and the U.S.

To combat and defeat it, one first needs to recognise that it exists, even as it goes under different names.

 The acronym BDS may be difficult to remember, until you break it down to its components BS and D (Dreck).  For those unfamiliar with the word, Dreck is a Yiddish term that has basically the same meaning as BS… so think of it as “BS with added emphasis.”  

One heading could be “BDS is BDS”  or for added emphasis “BDS is a pile of BDS”

In an argument with the proponents of an academic BDS, it is useful to consider the term FDA, known as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Although the FDA doesn’t always succeed, its important goal is to protect public health.  For our purposes the acronym can be:

F – for Freedom; academic freedom is a cornerstone of our open Western society, which applies to Israeli academics as much as anyone else.  BDS works in a sinister manner to overturn that.     

D – for Dialogue;  dialogue between academics from different institutions is vital in furthering knowledge and understanding.  For example, at the height of Cold War tensions between the U.S and Soviet Union, medical academics helped bridge the gap in part by pointing out the hopelessness of dealing with the medical consequences of nuclear war.  BDS works in a sinister manner to inhibit dialogue.

A – for Alone;  Israel alone is placed on a high pedestal for disproportionate criticism of activities that also undertaken by many other countries with relative impunity.  Moreover, Israel’s actions are considered alone, and out of the context of what its enemies have done.  BDS reinforces this iniquity.

While the KKK was restricted to the U.S., the LLL is global in its threat.

For more on dreck see here and here, and of course for BS among the asteroids see here.

There is a delightful story in Arutz Sheva about David Pur, age 115,  who continues to learn Torah and to pray every day - born in Persia in 1895 and made Aliya with his family in 1948. 

The article, here, describes his life, and provides some of his tips for longevity.  Although the dietary advice is mixed - he smoked cigarettes for 110 years (but didn’t inhale), had a brandy and nuts with his breakfast and favoured fruit and vegetables - his unfailing optimism seems to have been a big factor.  Pur’s 70-year-old son Salim, who often accompanies him, is quoted as commenting that his father solves everything with a smile, and says wistfully, “I wish I could be like him.” The old man is known for his smiles and for laughing and joking with the various members of his large family, who visit him daily.   “The main thing is not to lose your optimism,” he said.

Mr Pur also continues to learn Torah and pray every day 

…

There is the story of a U.S. physician who visited some elderly people in Siberia and wished for them “to live to 120″.  Once it was translated, the elderly were quite insulted by the Mosaic reference, thinking that the physician was trying to limit their lifespan.  In that vein, one of the letter commentators to the article is wishing Mr Pur “on to 240″.

I recently finished a book about the Sorek Valley and surrounding area - and the important role it played in the Israel War of Independence.  Its location made it a stategically important link to maintain supplies between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.  

Now more than 60 years on, there is much to see in this area which was the stomping ground of Samson - for instance here is a biblical look at Israel

One of the successes of the area is Kibbutz Tzora which contains many successful industries, high quality wine production, and a B and B.

One of nearby Moshav Eshtaol’s residents is Uzi-Eli Chezi, known as the Etrog Medicine Man.

While the recent brouhaha about the New Israel Fund and Im Tirtzu has highlighted some of the polarisation in Israeli society, it should be contrasted with the fragmentation of Palestinian society discussed by Meron Benvenisti in this recent article.

He states that “the Palestinian Authority ostensibly represents the Palestinian people but, actually, represents only the Palestinian splinter that lives in the West Bank and is struggling, through the “peace process”, to get better conditions for merely one quarter of the entire Palestinian nation. The residents of East Jerusalem want only to be left alone and not to be forced (”out of patriotism”) to forego the privileges they enjoy as Israeli residents; in the debate over detaching peripheral Arab neighborhoods, the residents of East Jerusalem support continued annexation to Israel. The Palestinian Israelis (”Israeli Arabs”) are fighting for recognition as a “national minority” and demand equal individual and collective rights within the Israeli polity. They do not tie their struggle to the struggle of their brethren who live on the other side of the separation fence/wall. The Palestinian Israelis are fighting for “Equality” and “Citizen Rights” whereas the Palestinians in the occupied territories are fighting for “Self Determination”. The Hamas activists in the Gaza Strip are not interested in the implications of their rhetoric on the interests of the entire Palestinian nation. And those in the Diaspora continue to carry around the keys to the homes they left in 1948 and to dream about “The Return.””

Meron Benvenisti, the former deputy Mayor of Jerusalem under Teddy Kollek, has also long written about the idea of a defacto bi-national state.

Although it’s important to have some skepticism about “explanations” of the complexities of what is going on in the Middle East, the concepts suggested in this article are worthwhile to read.

The article is published on the website of the American Task Force on Palestine.  A senior fellow for this organisation is Hussein Ibish whose articles are also worth reading.  He promotes a 2-state solution, with a secular Palestine alongside Israel.  In an interview, Ibish discussed the errors of one-staters, dismissed those promoting a boycott of Israel, and also had a useful perspective on J-Street here.

Khaled Aub Toameh has written an excellent article entitled What does “pro-Palestinian” really mean 

He writes that “In recent years there has been a significant rise in the number of non-Palestinians who describe themselves as “pro-Palestinian” activists…. What is striking is that many of these “pro-Palestinian” activists have never been to the Middle East, let alone the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. In most cases, they are not even Arabs or Muslims.”

What makes them pro-Palestinian?

In their view, inciting against Israel on a university campus or publishing “anti-Zionist” material on the Internet is sufficient to earn them the title of “pro-Palestinian.” But what these folks have not realized is that their actions and words often do little to advance the interests of the Palestinians. In some instances, these actions and words are even counterproductive.

It is hard to see how organizing events such as “Israel Apartheid Week” on a university campus could help the cause of the Palestinians. Isn’t there already enough anti-Israel incitement that is being spewed out of Arab and Islamic media outlets?

If anyone is entitled to be called “pro-Palestinian,” it is those who are publicly campaigning against financial corruption and abuse of human rights by Fatah and Hamas. Those who are trying to change the system from within belong to the real “pro-Palestinian” camp.

The “pro-Palestinian” activists in the West clearly do not care about reforms and good government in the Palestinian territories. As far as these activists are concerned, delegitimizing Israel and inciting against “Zionists” are much more important that pushing for an end to financial corruption and violence in Palestinian society.”

Toameh concludes with the observation that “The Palestinians do not need students and professors on university campuses to tell them that Israel is bad. They have already had enough of this incitement from Hamas, Fatah and other Arab media outlets and leaders.   It is time for the “pro-Palestinian” camp in the West to reconsider its policies and tactics. It is time for this camp to listen to the authentic voices of the Palestinians – those that are shouting day and night that the Palestinians want good leaders and an end to lawlessness, anarchy and financial corruption.”

Toameh is an impressive individual - an Israeli Arab who writes for the Jerusalem Post and U.S. News and World Report. He previously served as a senior writer for the Jerusalem Report, and a correspondent for Al-Fajr. He has produced several documentaries on the Palestinians.

The distinction between being anti-Israel and being pro-Palestinian is an important one - Shmuel Katz, in his excellent book Battleground: Fact and Fantasy in Palestine emphasised this.

There were 42 places listed as places to camp at and to journey from in the 40 years in the wilderness, and here Moshe lists them all.

R’ Shlomo Riskin quotes Rambam who wrote that the historical truth of the journeys was important as a way of emphasising that the survival of Israel in these barren circumstances was miraculous.

R’ Riskin wonders whether Nachmanides was suggesting that the underlying meaning was that this was the way Jewish history was going to be: a series of journeys until the present arrival in the state of Israel. Nachmanides may have been indicating that this was a lesson in what gave the Jews the courage, the faith and the strength to keep going. R’ Riskin asks about the meaning of the sentence “and Moshe wrote the starting points toward their destinations and their destinations towards their starting points”. The first part is clear but the second requires clarification. R’ Riskin quotes SY Agnon who when asked about his birthplace, spoke about Jerusalem, when everyone knew he was from Galicia. Agnon explained that he was “born in Jerusalem 3000 years ago, that was his origin, and  that Galicia was just a stopping off point.

R’ Riskin concludes that “as long as we wander with our place of origin firmly in mind, we are bound to reach our goal” and “our places of origin in Israel will remain our ultimate destiny”.